The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-07-22
A GOOD DOG STORY.


The battle had lasted AL day. anu
night had set in. The sound Of fire.
arms might still BE- heard In the dis
lance. The wood was held by bat
talon Of French marines. who had re-
ceiyed orders to cover the retreat The
whole village was on fire. from one end
10 the other. The heavy tread Of the
Prussian columns. as they filed through
the main street. resounded with dull
monotony on the icy snow. The
mounted officers were muflicd in long
orercoats. and when the steeds snorted
the breath Of the horses nostrils seemed
70 freeze in the air. The quiet, gloomy,
sfarlit sky, toward which a fog cloud
Of smoke scared upwards in the dis
tance. appeared 70 rest on a broad
basement Of riven flame.
Outside the village extended the
large open courtyard Of farm
which, although it stood alone. had NJ
. become prey to the dsvouring elc-
menL The conflagration had gained
The roof. cock-loft and cattlc-houscs.
aud formed steadily advancing sheet
Of fire. A thousand lanbent tongues
Of fame shot beyond the charred
walls toward tho orchard fruit trees
and the tall poplars along the road. "A
corpse was stretched full length in
trout Of the courtyard door; but, be-
yond the Kissing and cracking Of the
fames. every thing around was silent
and deserted.
Suddenly the mad howl Of = power
nj watch dog broke the stiffness Of the
gloom. In vain did the poor beast
wrench on the chain that throttled him
and howl at his approaching fate The
Prussian soldicry, who had left house
and home, wife and children. to fight
their hereditary Zoe. were deaf even to
the cries Of mercy which fell from the
lips Of human beng. How, then.
could such men be expected 10 stop in
their victorious career to unbind the
leash q 50 insignificant an object as .
wretched dog?
The battalion had already marched
~. and only few stragglers remained
ochlnd. One Of them stopped, Shout
aered his rihe-strap. and pecred into
The yard. He saw the dog and piticd
|the poor brute. The man was Pole.
and had some heart. He remembered
me dear old mastiff which had left
home to follow HIM in the Pressed
campaign and had died in ditch by
we roadside. He cautiously entered
'ne blazing courtyard and approached
ne kennel. The watch dog came out
ana took confidence at the light blue
eyes and open conntenancc Of the stall
wart dcliveler. The Pole unstrapped the
leather collar and the poor animal was
\ was large white dog. with woody
coa', long tail and pointed ears. II
started 70 follow the strange but on
reaching the dead man at the farm
sard door. Y drew near slowly. timidly
fcented the lkelcss body. and began to
WINE The faithful creature had REQ
snlzed its master. and began licking
!" brown and callous hand. vainly
'ne soldier beckoncd. called and
n'st'ed; he had 70 drag the animal
way from the corpse, after passing
found i IL neck rope which had served
a ,ne purpose Of : girdle % the dogs
lne French had retired and the Prus-
ian battalion had pitched It's camp on
snc outskirts Of the wood. Fires were
snaled, and he who had wine or BRAN
Ty IN MS gcurd gave some to the rest.
Nc comrades drew near to Flavian
o.n'ski. ~ the landwehrman was
Fa''eo; They looked q the dog and
,au' iun Of the soft-heartcd |" Polak. =
N ne MY irowned and held his peace.
NJ dog. who seemed 70 understand
rnm The Jeering mood Of the soldiers
night influence his new master 70 cot